The Board of Education has chosen Dr. Thomas Johnson and Dr. Pamela Kiefert to lead the Beloit School District for the rest of the 2014-15 school year. The two will temporarily replace Steve McNeal, who retired on Jan. 31.

According to a release from the School District of Beloit, Johnson was most recently the assistant superintendent of operations for the District. He also served as an assistant principal and principal for Hackett Elementary School before acting as Beloit Memorial High School's head principal.

Kiefert is a retired administrator, and has experience in the District as a teacher, executive director of curriculum, and interim co-Superintendent during the 2005-06 school year.

The Board of Education said they are confident in the two administrators and believe they will keep the focus on students during the process of naming a new superinteendent.

Beloit firefighters partnered with a national group to provide more than 200 winter coats to area children.

Scott Smith, president of the Beloit Firefighters Union Local 583, said firefighters raised nearly $5,000 as part of its partnership with Operation Warm to supply low-income students at Merrill Elementary School with brand-new coats Friday.

Smith said the families of the students to receive coats were informed by phone this week of the Friday night jacket event to take place at Merrill before a movie night at the school.

The Beloit firefighters group purchased about 135 new coats with the funds they raised, and the company matched that number in additional coats, bringing the total of coats to be given to the students to about 270, Smith said Thursday. He said the program is a rewarding experience.

Beloit College plans to overhaul a defunct power plant into a recreational space for students over the next four years.

Beloit College said Wednesday in a news release that it's working with Studio Gang Architects to reimagine the former Blackhawk Generating Station between the college campus and the Rock River.

Plans for the future Powerhouse include a coffee shop, lounges, a conference center, lecture hall, fitness center and theater. An eight-lane competition pool will have space for 250 spectators. There will also be a 10,000-square-foot fitness center and a 17,000-square-foot recreational gym.

The design will keep the building's original architectural features and incorporate new sustainable practices, such as using the river to help maintain the ambient temperature in the building.

A three-lane suspended running track will weave throughout the building, according to the release.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office will be adding additional patrol deputies to the roads during Homecoming this weekend, according to a release.

Deputies will be dedicated to patrolling roadways and areas that can be hazardous for young and inexperienced drivers, officials said. They will also be enforcing traffic and alcohol violations.

The leading cause of violent traffic deaths for teenagers is motor vehicle crashes, according to the release.

“It is our intent to be proactive in hopes of preventing any unfortunate events and to see that their homecoming night is safe and enjoyable,” the release said.

Rock County Sheriff Bob Spoden said he wants to encourage parents and guardians to talk with their teenagers about the importance of using seat belts, adhering to traffic laws and to reinforce safe driving habits.